Pages

Monday, October 15, 2012

Skip the Borders Book Tour

I'm back today to bring you the final stop on the Skip the Borders Blog Book Tour. Skip the Borders is the first book by blogger and quilter extraordinaire -- and one of my bestest quilting buddies -- the always fabulous Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts fame.

Skip the Borders is a collection of 15 quilt patterns, bound together by the fact that Julie has chosen to present them all without any borders at all. The running theme throughout all of the projects is that the designs themselves are the stars, and Julie shows them off by letting the design run from side to side and from top to bottom, without the framing effect of borders.

The book, quite ingeniously, is broken out into three sections: one-block quilts, two-block quilts, and outside-the-block quilts. It's pretty amazing to see how Julie creates such large-scale, original patterns using such simple elements. And through it all, Julie brings all of the voice and personality that is such a signature of her blog. Her writing is very conversational, and I felt like I was sitting at market with her again!

Instead of showing off several of the beautiful quilts in the book, I decided to just showcase my favorite. Box of Chocolates is one of the book's two-block quilts, and it is representative of some of my favorite quilts: simple to put together, a basic patchwork approach, and a design that showcases its fabrics. Plus, it may look like a square-in-square or log cabin block, but Julie introduces a strip-piece method to making these blocks that may surprise you.

I love this quilt, and it's only one of the 15 great projects in the book. Check out some of the other photos on the other stops of the blog tour.

The fact is, Julie is one of the best pattern writers in the business. Her patterns are easy to follow and accurate beyond belief. Plus, Julie always gives options to help personalize the quilt to best meet the quilter's needs. The book has a fantastic overview and basics section, which makes this a great book for beginning quilters.

Julie and the fab team at Martingale are giving away an ebook copy of Skip the Borders to a lucky Quilt Dad reader. Want to get your hands on this awesome book? I know you do! Simply leave a comment on this post and tell me what fabrics you would use to make your own Box of Chocolates quilt. The pattern has such versatility, and I'd love to hear about all of the different ideas you have for this single pattern! I'll be picking a winner shortly.

I just saw some lovely fall colorways of Kaffe Fassett at my local quilt shop that would be perfect combined with some autumnal tone on tones. I can already visualize the large scale focus prints with smaller scale prints and tone on tones. Thanks!

I am new to quilting and my Mom has requested a quilt in Earth tones. I've dutifully ordered fabric and am now looking at patterns. I'd love to see a strip-piecing method to do this design - I've done a similar design for a baby quilt and I really like how it looks. :) This is my first time commenting but I'm a fellow UNC grad and I love Shape Workshop for Quilters! :)

I think this would make an excellent scrap quilt. I think it would also look nice in soft tones with a couple flowers appliqued on opposing corners. The possibilites are endless. Love the fabrics used for the one in the book! Looks like such a happy quilt. Thanks for sharing the book!Tammy Mabrytmabry at jnebk dot com

I have a fat quarter bundle of Art Essential solids waiting for a project, maybe those with some coordinating prints, or? I know I could think of something - would love to win the book. Thanks for the chance.

I'm crazy over the Simple Color fabric line and think it would be great for this pattern. Although I might mix in some other favorite fabrics as well -- I seldom make a quilt from just one fabric collection.

Wow!! I've been drooling over this book for a while now and I love this quilt pattern. I, too, think it'd look great in the Simply Color collection but I'd love love LOVE to see it in the new Alexander Henry Once Upon A TIme collection.

My first inclination would be scraps 'cause that's my favorite. I also think it would be wonderful done with Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater. I might throw some matching solids in the mix with that, too. Thanks for teh chance to win!

Would love to win this book! I have had my eye on it for a while now. One line of fabric that I am really liking these days is Autumn Grace by Yuko Hasegawa. I also think the Laura Gunn Cosmo collection would be nice. So many choices!

I LOVE that quilt and would so love to win this book and thank you so much for the chance to. I would make my Box of Chocolate Quilt in my Lilac Hill Jelly Roll by Moda that I have been hoarding for ages.

I would use my favorite fabrics of all...my 30's repros. I have a large stash of them, but would probably need to buy some more. ;) I love any of the Darlene Zimmerman 30's repros, so would add some of them.

Hi John, I think I would like to use my stash of Japanese blue fabric with reds and whites. Thanks for bringing this design to my attention through your blog. Do you belong to the Capital Quilters Guild in Raleigh?

I would love to win the e-book because Julie is my favorite designer. It would be special done in the new Kona solid colors with the modern quilt prints as the center blocks.Yummy as chocolate for sure but much more colorful.

I don't really have a clue as to exactly which line I would use but whatever it was it would have to be very bright and cheery, oranges, reds, teals, blues, yellows, greens, you know what I am saying. Anyway, thank you for the giveaway.

I just purchased some Amy Butler Cameo - I think I might add some solids with part of the collection. I am so excited about a chance to win the book. Borders just are not my favorite part of the quilt. I have a 90 year old quilting friend who thinks a quilt is not a quilt without a border, so if I win the book I just may not share this book with her. No, really she is really great about embracing new ideas. Thank you for participating in the giveaway and sharing with the quilting community.

If I would make this quilt and call it box of chocolates, I think I would have to make it with browns and creams and maybe some red. But with a different name, I would want to make it in brights. I usually do more subdued colors and this pattern would be great to use some bright colors.

That's easy. I just received 5 fat quarters of Heather Ross fabric. The large pieces in this pattern would showcase her designs in style. The four patches I might do in random colors to coordinate. Thanks a bunch.

Red is my fav color, and I can just picture those little diagonal squares in hot red, with other red and white patterns from my vast stash surrounding them! Heading to my favorite shop to ask for this book tomorrow!

I can imagine this quilt in a variety of pinks, beiges, browns, and tans a little smaller in a baby quilt size. I need to get ready for a possible future grandchild. I already have a boy one done. Not many posts lately John. You must be busy with other things. Standing by...